Goodyear Lifeguards Win First Place at 2026 Arizona Lifeguard Challenge

Photo credit: Taylor Snell; from left to right: Dominic Saenz, JP Roberts, Makennah Hubler, Bella Faser, Brooke Woeslaw.

The city of Goodyear's lifeguard team took first place at the 2026 Arizona Lifeguard Challenge on Sunday, June 28, beating 20 other teams from across the state and becoming the first West Valley team to win the event since its inception in the 1980s.

The annual competition, coordinated by the Arizona Parks & Recreation Association and sponsored by the Michael Phelps Foundation, tested lifeguards on simulated emergency scenarios and skills they use on the job. Events included a river race, a first aid race and a relay race, along with individual CPR tests, general knowledge questions and an unresponsive victim rescue.

Each organization entered one four person team consisting of two men and two women from the same pool. Goodyear was represented by lifeguards Bella Faser, JP Roberts, Dominic Saenz and Brooke Woeslaw.

Goodyear Parks and Recreation Director David Lopez, Jr. praised the team's commitment to training and public safety.

"Our lifeguards work hard, and competitions like this show just how prepared and capable they are," Lopez said. "These skills aren't just for show. They're critical for protecting our community every day, and we couldn't be prouder of their performance."

Goodyear lifeguard JP Roberts competed for the first time this year after aiding the team as a coach for the previous two years. Roberts said city lifeguards spend at least two hours every week conducting rigorous training to save lives.

"These skills are drilled into us, so whether we are on duty, at a different pool, in public or even on the road and an emergency happens, it becomes second nature to jump in and help with the quality and care that each situation deserves," said Roberts. "I think that almost anyone at this pool could compete and do well due to the quality of training that we receive."

More information about Goodyear aquatics programs is available at grc.goodyearaz.gov/aquatic.

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